Clothespin



W. E. MOYER.

CLOTHESPIN.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21. 1919. e

; 1,330,646. Patented Feb. 10,1920,

WILLIAM E. MilYER, 0F PQRTLAND, OREGON.

GLO'JI'HESPIN.

1,33,tid6.

Application filed January 21, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM E. Moran, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of ()regon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothespins, of which the following is specification.

This invention relates to clothes pins, and an object of the invention is to provide a clothes pin which is strong, durable in construction, and in which the clothes and line gripping members are pivotally connected and normally held in gripping position by a suitable spring, thereby allowing the firm gripping of various articles of clothing, of different thicknesses and also eliminating the liability of breaking or splitting the pin when placing it upon a relatively thick obj ect, as is the usual case when employing the ordinary clothes pin.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawin s and in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved clothes pin.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sec tion through the clothes pin.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified form of the clothes pin showing parts thereof in section.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 and 2 indicate the gripping jaws of the clothes pin, which in the preferred form indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 are constructed of metal or any analogous material. These gripping members 1 and 2 are provided with relatively long solid shanks, the free ends of which gradually diverge as indicated at 3. The facing sides of the relatively long solid portions of the gripping members 1 and 2 are provided with serrated bores to provide roughened surfaces to permit the obtaining of a secure grip upon the article of clothing to be engaged by the clothes pin. The upper portion of the members 1 and 2 are relatively large being substantially cup-shaped and they have interengaging ears 5 formed thereon through which a pivot pin 6 extends for pivotally connecting the members 1 and 2 intermediate of their ends. The upper cup-shaped portions of the members 1 and 2 have their outer surfaces at their upper ends roughened Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 10, 192%.

Serial No. 272,348.

or serrated as shown at 7 to )rovide roughened surfaces for engagement with the lingers or thumb of the operator.

A pin 8 extends longitudinally within. the clothes pin structure, it being provided with an elongated slot 9 which receives therethrough the pivot pin 6. The pin 8 is formed upon and extends axially from the is coiled about the pin 8 having one end thereof engaging against the head 10 while the other end engages the pivot pin 6 of the members 1 and 2. This spring being an expansion spring tends to force the head 10 outwardly forcing it into engagement with the inner surfaces of the cup shaped portions 1 and 2 above the pivot of said mem bers, folding the lower shanks or solid portions of the members 1 and 2 toward or in close proximity to each other and consequenty in an article gripping position. To spread the shanks or relatively long solid portions 15 and 16 of the members 1 and 2,

it is necessary to press inwardly on the members 1 and 2 by engaging the roughened portions 7 thereof and also press downwardly upon the head 10, compressing the springs la and allowing the members 1 and 2 to be rocked upon their pivots, to spread their shanks or gripping portions 15 and 16.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings, a modified form of the clothes pin is shown. This form is particularly adapted to be construct-ed of wood or other frangible material and it is identical, in construction with the preferred form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, with the exception of the fact that the members l and 2 are provided with annular recesses 18, which extend therein and are in horizontal alinernent with the pivot 6 of the members. A reinforcing band 19 which is substantially U-shaped in plan is connected to the pivot pin 6*, and is seated in the recess 18 in each of the members 1 and 2 forming a brace for this portion of the clothes pin to strengthen the same at its pivot point and prevent breakage of the pin during use.

Changes in details may be made Without departing from the spirit of this invention, but;

I claim:

In a clothes pin, the combination, of a pair of pivotally connected members, relatively long shanks formed upon said mem bers and having portions of their facing surfaces serrated to form article gripping faces, a pivot pin pivotally connecting said members, said members provided With substantially cup-shaped portions extending upon the opposite sides of the pivot from said shank, a head, a pin carried by said head and connected to said pivot pin, a spring coiled about said pin and engaging said head and said pivot pin for normally urging said head into engagement With the inner surfaces of said cup-shaped portion, to maintain said article gripping members in gripping position.

WILLIAM E. MOYER. 

